The Federal Government is set to arraign some of the organisers of the recent hunger protest today (Monday) before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In the six counts filed by the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, the Federal Government also named a British citizen, Andrew Wynne, aka Andrew Povich, a defendant.
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In the charge sheet marked, FHC/ABJ/CR/454/2024, the defendants were accused of “treason, destabilising the country, intimidating the President and destroying the NCC in Kano,” among others.
The IG specifically accused the protesters of acting in concert and conspiring, with the intention to destabilise the country, to commit a felony, to wit: treason, between July 1 and August 4, 2024.
The #EndBadGoveranceInNigeria protests, which commenced on August 1 and ended on 10, were in response to the economic hardship experienced by the citizens.
According to figures revealed by human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), on August 22, 2024, a total of 2,111 individuals were arrested during the 10-day nationwide protests.
Falana added that out of the arrested suspects, a total of 1,403 had been arraigned in courts and remanded in prisons due to lack of legal representation.
In the charge sheet filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, the Federal Government named the defendants as Micheal Adaramoye (aka Lenin); Adeyemi Ahayomi (aka Yomi); Suleiman Yakubu; Comrade Opaluwa Eleojo; Angel Innocent; Buhari Lawal; Mosiu Sadiq; Bashir Bello (aka Murtala); Nursdeen Khamis; Abdulsalam Zubairu; Andrew Wynne (aka Andrew Povich); Lucky Obryan; Comrade Musa Abdollahi.
The IG specifically accused the protesters of acting in concert and conspiring, with the intention to destabilise the country, to commit a felony, to wit: treason, between July 1 and August 4, 2024.
Egbetokun said the offence was contrary to Section 95 and punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code.
The IG also said, “Between 1 July 2024 and 4 August 2024, at Karshi Abuja FCT, within the jurisdiction of this court, while acting in concert and with intent to destabilise Nigeria, (defendants) conspired together to commit felony, to wit: Inciting to mutiny and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 96 and punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code.”
The IG added that the protesters, between July 1, 2024, and August 10, 2024, in Abuja FCT, Kaduna, Kano and Gombe, in collaboration with Andrew Wynne (aka Andrew Povich) a British Citizen, with the intent to destabilise Nigeria, waged war against the state in order to intimidate or overawe the President by attacking and injuring police officers and burning police stations, High Court Complex, NCC Complex, Kano Printing Press, Government House Karo, Kadama Investment and Promotions Agency office, NURTW office and several other buildings.
Egbetokun said the offence was contrary to Section 410 of the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provisions Act CAP P3 LEN 204.
Also, the defendants were accused of collaborating with Wynne, a British Citizen, with the intent to destabilise Nigeria, incited disaffection to the government by inciting public disturbance while carrying placards with the inscription ‘end bad government’ and several other inscriptions to incite disaffection to the government.
The IG said they committed an offence contrary to Section 416 of the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provisions Act CAP P3 LFN 204.
The National Coordinator, Take It Back, Juwon Sanyaolu, disclosed to our correspondent on Sunday that the defendants would be arraigned today (Monday).
He added the protesters would represented by Falana.
Sanyaolu said, “Mass trial of another set of the protesters in Kano and Abuja will commence tomorrow (Monday). Femi Falana will be representing them.”
Meanwhile, some activists have petitioned the International Criminal Court and the United States of America Embassy, seeking the release of detained #EndBadgovernance protesters in Nigeria.
However, in a copy of the petition obtained by our correspondent on Sunday, the activists, mostly based in the U.S., stated that protesters are not the enemies of the country.
The petition was signed by John Parker of the Harriet Tubman Centre for Social Justice, Los Angeles, CA; Sharon Black of Peoples Power Assembly, Washington, DC/Maryland/ Virginia USA; Maggie Vascassenno of Women in Struggle, Los Angeles, CA; and Andrew Mayton of Youth Against War & Racism, Baltimore, USA, among others.
It partly read, “We are workers, students and activists in the U.S., the imperialist giant. We call on you to hear the righteous demands of the people of the #EndBadGovernance movement.
“The protestors are not your enemy. We stand shoulder to shoulder with our comrades in Nigeria, fighting for an end to poverty, unemployment and hunger.
“Tens of thousands of Nigerians protested throughout Nigeria August 1 – 10, 2024, to demand an end to austerity measures that are impoverishing the people. The government forces shot live ammunition into crowds of demonstrators, killing up to 50 innocent Nigerians.
“Over 2,000 Nigerians were arrested in the 10-day period. The arrests are continuing with nighttime raids of homes of suspected activists. Release them all immediately!”
The activists also called on the two organisations to prevail on the Federal Government to drop the charges against the protesters.
“We call on the government of Nigeria to immediately release all #EndBadGovernance detainees! Drop the trumped-up charges. End the continuing raids and detentions. Provide legal representation. Target the IMF & World Bank, not the people!” it added.
They also condemned the invasion of the Nigeria Labour Congress headquarters, asking the police to return the materials they took away.
The petition continued, “On August 7, government security forces staged a nighttime raid ransacking the headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress, seizing printed materials and other documents. Return the materials and hand them off to the NLC.
“We stand in solidarity with the just demands of the people for jobs, lower prices of food and other essential items to live and support a family.”
The activists also supported the calls to end measures allegedly imposed by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. They added that the measures impoverished workers in the USA.
“The calls for an end to the austerity measures imposed by the IMF and World Bank are justified. Here in the U.S., workers and the poor are also impoverished by the same banks that are hurting the people of Nigeria,” it added.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
